GOODBYE 2nd Trimester!

We can mark off another day on our calendar! We made it through our appointment today and I will officially be 27 weeks tomorrow!! YAY! Weeks 27-40 mark the third trimester so today is my last day in my second trimester and I will definitely make it to my third trimester!!! 

Chad's mom was able to go with us today and loved seeing the boys on the ultrasound. We did not see improvement in Baby B’s blood flow; it has stayed the same since Monday. We will definitely take that news since Monday was an improvement from last week. I was so worried the steroid shots gave us a boost and we were going to drop back down to where we were last week. Thanks to many prayers, that did not happen. We go back to the doctor again on Monday. 

This week I have received so many encouraging words and scriptures from friends and family. I would like to share a few:

 “So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

  – Isaiah 41:10

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.”

  – Psalms 139:13 

 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

  – Psalms 139:13

A friend and neighbor emailed me a list of verses. This one was one of my favorites from her list and I wrote it on a sticky note for our fridge:

My mom added this verse to her fridge and set me this picture:

 A mutual friend introduced me to someone that had twins at 25 weeks. She also lives in Birmingham and her twins just turned one. She sent me some encouraging words this week. She sent the image at the top of this blog post and this imgae:

Here is my last picture in the second trimester!!!

Third trimester, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!!

26 Weeks, 4 Days

26 WEEKS AND 4 DAYS!

 

Once we found out we were expecting twins, we knew our chances of preterm labor were increased. If you asked me then, I would have told you our goal was to make it to September. If you ask me now, I will tell you each hour is a blessing! I seriously moved Friday’s appointment from 8 AM to 11:30 AM just in case we had to deliver. I mean, that’s 3 ½ more hours the boys could be growing in my body. As much as I worried about things early in our pregnancy, I never imagined we would have to deliver in July.

Since last Wednesday, when we found out how low Baby B’s blood flow was, I started preparing myself to deliver at 26 weeks and 2 days. I was devastated with the doctor’s news. I didn’t care about being cut open, but I did not want my boys entering the world fighting for their lives. We had been preparing the boys’ nursery, but I didn’t even have hospital clothes to pack in a bag to be ready for our appointment. Who thinks they will have to deliver this early? Physically I am able to still go to work and run errands. We got hospital clothes this weekend. My bags are now packed and I’ll be more than happy to live out of my bags for 2-3 months, if Baby B’s placenta can keep going! 

This weekend we cancelled our baby shower and closed the door to the twins’ room. We remained hopeful, but at the same time knew our outcome at 26 weeks and 2 days could be very bad. Mom came up on Monday for our appointment and was ready in case we had to deliver. I was so excited to see my mom! Showing her the twins’ room was hard, but there is just something comforting about having your mom with you with times are hard. Mom was able to see the boys on the ultrasound. They were both active and it was amazing to get to see her face when she saw them moving around for the first time. Luckily, we made it through our 26 weeks and 2 days appointment! I am so excited that today I am 26 weeks and 4 days and both my little guys are still kicking in my belly!! The doctor said Baby B’s blood flow had improved since our last appointment! He said it could have been the steroid shots that we received last week and we could see it decline again. Maybe it was 5% steroid shots that did it, but it had to have been 95% prayers. People we don’t even know have started praying for us and we are so thankful for each and every prayer!! I am hopeful the blood flow will stay like it is and we can keep these baby boys growing. I was so excited with the doctor’s news that I literally almost jumped on him! 

I took a picture before leaving for the doctor on Monday. Luckily, this will not be my last bump picture! 

Our next appointment is on Friday. I will be 26 weeks and 6 days pregnant at the time. We will go back with our bags packed, lots of prayers, and hope to get sent home!

25 Weeks, 4 Days

At 25 weeks and 4 days we met with our high risk doctor hoping to get comfort in Baby B just being a small baby and nothing medically being wrong. Unfortunately, that was not the news we received. We learned Baby B's placenta was failing and he was fighting really hard to receive his blood flow and nutrients.

We were told there was nothing we could do to help. This is something that could happen in any pregnancy and isn't due to anything we did during our pregnancy. The decision on what to do next is harder because we have twins. Taking the boys out now threatens the life for both of our boys. Leaving them in, means Baby B could get tired at any point and stop fighting for nutrients. 

Physically my body wants to keep going. I love feeling their baby kicks and I want to get a miserably large belly. Emotionally I am a nervous wreck. I was given a steroid shot in one hip that day and returned the following day for another steroid shot. The shots will help the boys' lungs develop faster. Since they will be delivered early their lungs will not be fully developed and the steroid shots should give them a better chance to breathe on their own sooner.

We return tomorrow for another Doppler Scan to check Baby B's blood flow and if it has gotten too low, we will deliver tomorrow at only 26 weeks and 2 days. We are praying he can stay strong and if so our next appointment to check for blood flow will be on Friday when the boys will be 26 weeks and 6 days. Each extra day the boys can stay in my body is huge! I never dreamed we would have to deliver this early. I have to turn it over to God and the doctors. 

 

24 Week Ultrasound

We met my parents in Prattville for lunch at Jim N' Nicks for Father's Day and then went to see a movie. We were able to show mom and dad the DVD ultrasound of the boys.

 At 24 weeks pregnant we took an Infant CPR Class through Brookwood. On our way home, we had to drive past Krispy Kreme. The HOT NOW Sign was bright red so we had to stop! Some pregnant women crave ice cream, but my craving is for doughnuts (the blueberry cake are my favorite).

 That Thursday we headed to the doctor for our 24 week ultrasound. As soon as the ultrasound came up we could see heartbeats and the boys were really moving. Our boys have always been active and the nurses have a hard time getting their heart rates because they do not like to sit still. Everything was good on the ultrasounds until the nurse started measuring the boys. At that point we realized Baby B was over 2 weeks behind schedule. We kept asking questions and the doctor referred us back to our high risk doctor.

Baby B
 

Baby A was not cooperating with the camera but he did give us a thumbs up.

21 Weeks - Baby Moon in Savannah

Chad and I like to travel so we wanted at least one more trip before the boys arrived. We decided on Savannah and headed that way at 21 weeks pregnant with twins. By the way, Savannah is really hot in June! 

We got to Savannah at lunch that Friday and our first meal was at The Olde Pink House. The service was great and the food was amazing! Chad ordered fried chicken. Our server told us he had only seen one person finish the plate. When he came to pick up the plate, he had seen two. Chad was eating enough for our entire family. 

The hidden room in the restaurant. 

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in the Historic District which is right behind River Street. It was a great place to stay because we could walk almost everywhere. View of the river our room:

After walking around Savannah all afternoon, we got ready for dinner at Rocks on the River. 

We woke up Saturday morning and walked to Forsyth Park. Later that day we ate the biggest pieces of pizza ever from Vinnie Van GoGo's in City Market.

Saturday night we went to Hilton Head for dinner and then came back to Savannah for ice cream at Leopold's. 

People stand in line for hours to buy ice cream but luckily our wait was only 45 minutes. We went back to City Park and listened to music. 

We enjoyed our time in Savannah but would recommend going in the spring or fall. The summers there are very hot and humid. Don't leave Savannah without getting some pralines from River Street!

20 Week Ultrasound

At 19 weeks I was a pregnant Matron of Honor in my best friend's wedding!

 

The following week, we went in to the doctor for our 20 week ultrasound and both boys had what the nurse called "beautiful anatomy". We were able to get a DVD of our boys kicking and moving around inside my belly. We confirmed that the boys each had their own placenta and therefore were fraternal twins. We found out Baby B was a week smaller than Baby A and asked if we should be worried. The doctor told us Baby B was just a smaller baby. He was also already sucking his thumb!

We left the doctor's office happy and scheduled our next appointment for 24 weeks.

Twin Gender Reveal

We had cupcakes made at Edgar's for our Twin Gender Reveal on Mother's Day Weekend. My mom and dad came up and Chad's mom, brother, and sister-in-law all came over for our reveal. Chad grilled hamburgers and we had the cupcakes for dessert.

Only two people got the genders correct:

  

But Chad was extremely excited about 2 BOYS!

The next day we went out for lunch to celebrate Mother's Day and thought about how different things would be on our next Mother's Day.

Twin Announcement

We waited until we were 14 weeks pregnant to share our news!

What to Expect

It's been a busy 2015. After being sick all Valentine’s Weekend I went to the doctor and we found out we were pregnant! I wrote my first note to my future child two days later:

“The nurse called on Monday at lunch with the most amazing news. I wish our phone call was recorded. I am pretty sure that I screamed and told the nurse she was my new favorite person. The first thing I wanted to do when I found out was go buy a tiny pair of shoes. I called Chad but decided to wait and tell him when he got home so I could tell him in person. Holding in that secret made Monday the longest afternoon ever. Both my mom and Chad’s mom were thrilled with the news and my dad wanted us to start referring to you as Scout until we know if you are a little boy or a little girl. I keep calling you Poppy. I read somewhere you are only the size of a poppy seed. You have so many people praying for you already. Hold on for another 8 months little Poppy. You are truly our little miracle.”

I wrote a second note a week later:

“Today is exactly one week after our first positive test. Today is also the first time we got to see you. You are the tiniest little dot. I was so thrilled. This last week I have felt so great and energetic, I was terrified you were not there anymore. It turns out you are definitely there! I’ve noticed my appetite start to increase. We are still praying for you every day and can’t wait to meet you!”

Because some of our blood work numbers were high, the nurse asked us to come back in a week and we found out some really unexpected news. 

After getting the news I wrote my third note:

“We expected to see one little heart beat on our ultrasound yesterday and there were two. I’m going to be honest, it took us a second to adjust but now we are just thrilled! I read up on twins all last night. You will be here even earlier that we expected. Twins are carried for 36 or 37 weeks instead of 40 weeks like singles. I also learned twins like to share a crib at first because they are used to being right beside one another and hearing their twin’s heartbeat. I just think that is the sweetest thing. There are so few people in the world with a twin. How special that you two will grow up together and share something very few get to share. I just hope I can provide all the nourishment you two need and that you stay put for 30 more weeks! By the way, you really like pizza.”